Nearby Nature

Murphy Is Montclair Pet Mayor!

Montclair voters backed the traditionalist candidate in elections this month.  Murphy, a Chocolate Lab sponsored by Crogan’s Restaurant, succeeds Little Bear, an Alaskan Mix, as Pet Mayor.  Murphy’s administration includes Jasper, a Portuguese Water Dog, as Vice Mayor, and Stella, a long haired cat, as Secretary of  Catastrophic Disasters.  Congratulations to the victors, and to the Montclair Veterinary Hospital Pet and Wildlife Fund, which raised nearly $14,000 in the Pet Mayor Contest.

That’s a pretty impressive haul.  Since 2004, the pet mayor contest has raised $60,000, which has paid vets for helping injured and ill wildlife.  We look forward to Murphy’s administration.

Montclair Recreation Center, RIP?

Next on the budget chopping block is the historic Montclair Recreation Center.  While we’re philosophical about our city’s budget travails, the news about shuttering the Rec Center and all its programs feels like a sucker punch.

Admittedly, we’ve had time to adjust to Montclair Park’s staffing and facilities cutbacks over the past couple years, but are saddened about completely closing our park building too.  Read this note sent yesterday by Mark Zinns, Montclair Park’s recreation supervisor:

Hi Friends,

As you may know, there are some extreme cuts coming to Parks and Recreation because of the City’s budget shortfall.  No center is exempt including Montclair from complete closure.

If you can help, we need you to come to City Council this Thursday and speak on behalf of Parks and Recreation.  We will be having a rally around 4:00pm and council starts at 5:00pm.  You can register to speak on the City Council web site or fill out a card when you come.

Also, please spread the word to your friends and family about the dire circumstances.  Thank you.

Yes, every little drop of money matters now and the City of Oakland must remain solvent.  We aren’t sure that trying to save these remaining Parks and Recreation centers would even work out.  How depressing!

Well, we should do something. There are volunteers working on Montclair Park’s grounds today, and that same kind of local spirit might flow into the Rec Center itself.  We don’t know exactly how programs are organized without a director, but a couple classes soldier on:   the Montclair Hiking Club’s outings continue, right?

Perhaps another non-profit entity could ride in like a white knight.  There’s a modest model in place, with “Friends” groups who provide time and energy devoted to local resources.  While it took a while, the Shepherd Canyon Railroad Trail and Joaquin Miller Park groups are up and running now – and that’s due to efforts by local citizens who value our shared places.

We have to figure this out, and avoid saying:  Montclair Recreation Center, RIP.

Eucalyptus, As Political Hot Potato

Eucalyptus has become the newest political hot potato.  While the opinions aren’t exactly this cut and dry, there are three main camps:  folks who want to save the trees; others who call for selective pruning; and still others who want to cut them down.

We wanted to pay a little homage first, and walked in the hills today.  The eucalyptus are everywhere, standing sentinel on many hillsides.  We noticed these trees, below, while ambling along the Bay Area Ridge Trail.  Within East Bay MUD territory, these specimens were quite tall and there were a couple tree stumps here and there.

The Hills Conservation Network (HCN), which aims to save trees, filed a suit against the East Bay Regional Park District last Tuesday.  The group is looking to prevent any tree removals, until there’s sufficient environmental study about the 20-year impact of removing half a million trees.  According to HCN’s press release:

Large scale removal of pine, eucalyptus and acacia trees is a radical plan to restore the landscape to the way it may have looked 200 years ago.  Removal of thousands of trees eliminates their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a main culprit in global warming.  This is poor forest management and ineffective fire prevention — and it harms the environment.

Meanwhile, there are concerns about limiting the impact of the next firestorm.  The hills are part of the Wildfire Prevention District where, like clockwork, the Diablo Winds fuel fires every two decades or so.  Ever wiser since the 1991 firestorm, we’re all trying to mitigate the fire fuels – whether on public or private lands.

Homeowners know the drill each summer, as we’re required to maintain “defensible space” between the greenery and our homes.  Everyone keeps things under control or else gets fined, and must adhere to very tight regulations.

The eucalyptus have become a real point of contention, with different opinions about whether or how to clear them on public lands.   Other plant species may or may not grow successfully near them.  Various chemicals might be acceptable or not, when clearing eucalyptus and other growth.  And some selective de-limbing and chopping might be useful.

To shake this all out, it comes down to what is best for supporting the natural environment and for reducing potential fire damage.  There’s plenty of human sparks coming from scientists, arborists, environmentalists and fire marshals who are debating here – and we’re curious where you stand.

Dappled Light From Lake Temescal

Yesterday, the Temescal Regional Rec Area was a place of dappled-light beauty.  Your faithful blogger decided to take a quick walk around our old-time swimming and picnicking area,  and tried to capture some magic with her trusty camera-phone in hand.

Lake Temescal started out as an engineering marvel, when Anthony Chabot constructed the earthen dam and water supply back in 1868.  The oasis became a popular recreation spot, baptized into the East Bay Regional Park District family by 1936.

It’s pretty easy to forget about Lake Temescal because its right here.  The 48 acres may be accessed through Broadway or Broadway Terrace entrances which are well-signed.  In this classic view shot, taken yesterday, you can almost pick out the Highway 24 and 13 arteries.

Still there are plenty of peaceful spots within the park.  With Saturday picnics underway by the lake, I decided to check out the more remote hillside area.  Earlier this year, the Oak Bay Trail played host to the Oakland Marathon runners – but it was empty yesterday afternoon.

You know when the light seems absolutely perfect?  Yesterday, I wandered through the spectrum of nearly pitch black, greens of all shades, and blinding sunlight.  It was just one of those beautiful sites to behold, right in our Montclair backyard.

Neighbors Sharing Bees Extraction

Apparently the bees are arriving on some homeowners’ doorsteps, not to mention their in their pipes and walls.  Yes, Montclarions are hosting bees in addition to termites, ants, and good old house flies.

Recently on the North Hills Phoenix Association forum, a neighbor asked how to deal with bees who had settled inside his home.  These hive inhabitants could be heard from a particular room, not exactly a pleasant experience.

Forum readers came to the rescue with suggested bee whisperers who extract bees live and relocate them.  Khaled Almaghafi (510-524-5168) works both sides of the equation, with a bee removal service as well as a honey shop on 3622 Telegraph Ave.  Another bee expert is Earthwise’s Deb McKay (510-566-2027).

Members of the Mount Diablo Beekeepers Association volunteer for swarm removals.  “The MDBA requests a $50 donation for swarm removal services.  This money is used for our educational programs,” explains the association web site.  In addition, some beekeepers on eBeeHoney offer swarm removals.  Here’s a combined list:

John Adkins (877-723-5467) – Steve Arnold (805-466-4649) – Bobby Baty (510-268-8466) – Bradley Brandon (925-497-6101) – Bill Hoskins (925-258-0279) – Patricia Indries (831-325-1382) – Laural Roaldson (lists Montclair, 925-705-2880) – Alice Rosenthal (415-272-0596) – Steve Sparks (510-913-8155) – Richard Sullivan (510-590-1706) – Joan Weir (415-845-7749) – Sara Willis (510-531-9423)

Are bees a real problem for you?  We’re wondering how many Montclarions have chased bees from their homes, either this season or in earlier years.  Please feel free to share your war stories and lessons learned.

P.S.  You may join the Phoenix Association’s forum anytime (subscribe here).  Phoenix and North Hills Neighborhood Council will officially merge in June, so Northern Montclarions will be able to reach one group for their safety, environmental and other neighborly concerns.